Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, July 31 Sermon Text: Isaiah 35: 8-10

And a highway shall be there, 

and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; 

the unclean shall not pass over it. 

It shall belong to those who walk on the way; 

even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

No lion shall be there, nor shall 

any ravenous beast come up on it;

they shall not be found there, 

but the redeemed shall walk there.

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return 

and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

 they shall obtain gladness and joy,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The Christian life is a journey.  King David called it a pilgrimage (Ps. 84:5).  King Solomon knew it as “the good way in which they should walk” (I Ki. 8:36).  The writer of Hebrews refers to this journey as a race of faith (Heb. 12: 1-2).  In the book of Acts the church and those who belonged to it were known as “The Way”.  Isaiah refers to the believer’s spiritual journey as a “highway”, the “Way of Holiness”. 

The Christian life is a journey that has a beginning; it has a progression onward and upward; and it has an ending – our ultimate destination.  Isaiah 35: 8-10 speaks of each of these truths.  We did a quick overview of this passage last week.  Today we consider more carefully the “Way of Holiness”, and what our journey on this highway should look like we progress toward our heavenly home.  We will see that progression on the Highway of Holiness requires the Christian’s constant effort, struggle, faith and obedience in conjunction with the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

Any journey, especially one that is long and difficult, requires times of refueling, refreshment and rejuvenation, maybe refocus and recommitment to the journey.  For the Christian worship is such a place.  Progressing upward and onward on the “Way of Holiness” will bring us to God’s ultimate purpose and place for us.  “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11).

Worship is an essential part of our progress toward holiness, and just like every things else we do in the process of sanctification, it is done in the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit leads us in our private worship – our daily personal time with God.  The Spirit leads us in our daily life worship as we offer our lives as living sacrifice, experience the presence of Christ in all we do and give God the glory.  Finally the Spirit leads us in our corporate worship.  “There is a simple standard that a mature Christian refuses to violate:  if we are physically able, we must assemble with other Christians for corporate worship.  This is commanded very plainly by God:  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  (Hebrews 10:24-25)  A mature Christian realizes that he needs to continue in corporate worship, for accountability, for ministry, for opportunities to serve others, for stimulation to love and good deeds, for enriched worship, for many other reasons besides.  We need each other!” (Andy Davis – An Infinite Journey, p. 337)

The life of every Christian that is progressing on the "Way of Holiness” is one of praise and worship.  We pour out our praise in thankfulness for the undeserved grace that saves us; we lift up our hearts in praise anticipating the fullness of joy that will be ours when we finish our journey; and as we make our way through this life we lift up worship that acknowledges the grace of God that enables and empowers us in the journey toward Christlikeness. 

One of the worship songs we will sing this Sunday beautifully acknowledges the reality of our great need and God’s great provision.  As you prepare for worship I encourage you to meditate on Isaiah 35 and consider the lyrics of Great Are You Lord:

                                                                                                  

You give life, You are love, 

You bring light to the darkness;

You give hope, You restore every heart that is broken;

And great are You Lord!

It's Your breath in our lungs, 

So we pour out our praise, We pour out our praise;

It's Your breath in our lungs, 

So we pour out our praise to You only

And all the earth will shout Your praise;

Our hearts will cry these bones will sing,  

Great are You Lord!